except
by rope, and the windlass is always guarded. Hell Canon is no easier. It
forks, and the forks both fork twice, and there's only one branch you
can get out through. We might be able to make it, either route. But
there's Dad and Elsie."

"You spoke of bringing about a difference between Cochise and Slade,"
said Lennon. "What is your plan?"

"It all depends. I have several ideas. One is to offer Slade a share in
your copper-mine deal. But we'll hold that back. He knows that matters
must soon come to a show-down with the bunch. Cochise has been getting
harder to hold for the past three years. You know, he claims that Elsie
belongs to him."

Lennon stared in amazement.

"What! your sister--that little pink and white blossom?"

"But she's not really my sister. That's the pinch. Cochise brought her
with him when he first came to the Hole, two years before Slade. He
claimed he had found her over beyond Triple Butte. She was crazed from
thirst--never has been able to remember what had happened or anything
about her life before she came here."

"My word! Has no inquiry ever been made for her? Did you not advertise?
What were her clothes like?"

"Rags and tatters. No one came. Nobody outside knows there is such a
place as Dead Hole, except by vague report. Dad and I just happened to
stumble into it. About advertising Elsie, we tried that some. There was
no answer. We think she belonged to a stray family, out prospecting. The
others must have died of thirst."

"Or were murdered by Cochise," put in Lennon.

Carmena's eyes narrowed.

"Maybe--maybe not. It was just after he jumped the Reservation. But he
was only a sulky schoolboy then, playing hookey. Besides, he had not
harmed the child. He worked for Dad and was right decent, till he got in
with Slade and the--business started."

Lennon was not to be diverted to another subject. The mystery of Elsie's
parentage intrigued him. With the realization that the two girls were
not of blood kin, Lennon found himself dwelling upon the differences
between them. Elsie, cleared of any kinship to Farley, at once became in
his thoughts a being of finer nature than her foster-sister.

In contrast, Carmena now seemed to show distinctly the taint of Farley's
blood. Her frank manner took on the tinge of boldness. Her vigour and
strength now seemed mannish, if not coarse.

Might not what he had taken for high spirit and courage be no more than
callous hardihood? Was there not